title: Spider toxin (Hvt) gene cloned under phloem specific RSs1 and RolC promoters provides resistance against American bollworm (Heliothis armigera).
abstract: Spider venoms are neurotoxin proteins that can kill insects. Spider toxin Hvt gene was cloned under two phloem specific RSs1 and RolC promoters, transformed into tobacco plants through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and tested against Heliothis armigera larvae. Transgenic plants were confirmed through PCR. First instar larvae of H. armigera were released on detached leaves of transformed and non-transformed plants. Insect bioassays showed 93-100% mortality of H. armigera larvae within 72 h on the leaves of transgenic plants while all larvae survived and continued feeding on detached leaves from non-transformed control plants. The Hvt gene expressing under phloem specific RSs1 and RolC promoters could therefore be used for developing H. armigera-resistant, genetically-modified crops.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Allah Dino
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Moddassir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Zahid
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mukhtar
authors.forename: Sher Afzal
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Imran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Habib
authors.forename: Zahid Abbas
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Shahid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mansoor
authors.forename: Nasir Ahmad
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Saeed
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015870:Gene Expression; D007306:Insecticides / Q000378:metabolism*; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000469:parasitology*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D013111:Spider Venoms